Xi Jinping vows to uphold constitution and rule of law

Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping pledged yesterday to uphold the constitution and promote rule of law during a Politburo seminar, according to state media.

"No organisation or individual should be put above the constitution and the law," Xinhua quoted Xi as telling members of the 25-seat body, the decision-making body for the Communist Party. He also stressed the need for government to be administered in accordance with the law, while similarly developing the country and society as a whole.

It was the second time in less than three months that Xi has made remarks stressing the importance of the constitution and law, following comments on December 4 during a conference commemorating the 30th anniversary of the constitution.

Judicial organs at all levels should give priority to resolving deep-seated problems that impede justice and the judicial process, and they should ensure that defendants and plaintiffs are treated fairly, Xi said while presiding over the seminar, which was not a formal meeting.

He urged judicial staff to uphold justice for the people, to improve the way and efficiency in which staff members do their jobs, and to effectively resolve the issue of litigation that has long presented hurdles and difficulties to the common people.

Xi also stressed that extra efforts should be made to ensure that more legal assistance is given to people facing economic hardship, in order to safeguard their rights. And he called on judicial officials to keep in close touch with the public, to improve judicial transparency and to live up to the people's expectations of being fair and open.